Prospective Students

Welcome prospective undergrads—domestic and international!

For many new students, living in residence is where the university journey begins. And at UBC, it’s an extraordinary experience unlike any other.

Living in residence makes it easy for students to meet new people, live in a study-oriented atmosphere, get help for academic and personal challenges, and be part of all that UBC and its surrounding neighbourhoods have to offer. Campus residents have easy access to beaches and recreational activities, theatre, restaurants, guest speakers and special interest clubs.

Year after year, students tell us that living in residence helped them become better learners and make long-lasting friendships. UBC houses nearly 14,000 students in 15 residences.

Guaranteed rooms

Many prospective students will qualify for our First Year Guarantee in Winter Session Residence. Most students in this group are assigned to live in Orchard Commons, Place Vanier or Totem Park. These residences all have furnished shared and single rooms, vibrant common areas for socializing, and plenty of space for quiet study time. Based on availability, some students will be assigned to live in Ritsumeikan-UBC House, Walter Gage, or Fairview Crescent where upper-year students and some graduate students also live.

Eating made easy

Never worry about planning, shopping, prepping or cleaning up after meals. Residents in Orchard Commons, Place Vanier and Totem Park purchase a required residence meal plan, with residence dollars for use at all three residence dining halls and flex dollars for use at select campus partners.

Students who are offered accommodation in other residences will have a kitchen, but can also enjoy added convenience and savings with a UBCcard Value Plan.

“The dining hall gives you a huge array of options and they switch it up every day, so there’s always something new to try.” — Amy Miles, Totem Park resident

Support and fun

No matter which residence you live in, you will be part of a safe, supportive, inclusive environment that’s designed to help you pursue your academic goals and enjoy your time as a student. Our Residence Life teams are among the best-connected people at the university. Residence Advisors—current UBC students—are plugged into the resources and support services available to you in residence and around campus, including health services and safety programs. RAs spend countless hours organizing fun opportunities to get students involved in residence. Be an actor in a residence play, join a committee, or go on a field trip to one of our local ski hills. When you live at UBC, there’s always something to do.

“You’ll meet people from all over the world with all different backgrounds. The one thing we have in common is UBC pride.” — Brandon MacKay

Jump Start

All direct-entry, first-year undergraduate students are invited to participate in Jump Start, which takes place in August, prior to the start of classes. Jump Start is specifically designed to help first year students adjust to their new academic environment, make friends, and explore their new home, school and city.

“Before arriving at UBC, I was anxious about moving to a new place, meeting new friends and being in a different academic setting. I made friends and got to know UBC through Jump Start and now I feel more confident going into my classes.” — UBC Jump Start participant

Costs

Fees and payments vary depending on what residence and room type you live in—and whether you are a first year student with a required Residence Meal Plan.

Note that undergraduate students entering their first year could be eligible for a Student Housing Supplemental Grant. Explore information about financial resources for UBC students.

How to apply

You can start your residence application when you apply to UBC, and then visit the Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS) Online Service Centre to finish your residence application.

If you didn’t apply for housing when you applied to UBC, you can apply directly in the Online Service Centre before May 1.

Tips

• Don’t wait to apply for residence until you’ve received an offer of admission to UBC. Apply by the Winter Session Residence deadline (May 1).
• Review essential application facts and important dates to ensure your application is submitted properly and on time.
• If you are considering both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses for your studies, apply to both residence on both campuses at the same time so you only pay the application fee once.